Children’s Occupational Therapy Advice
Handwriting.
Heavy Pressure
Heavy Pressure through a pen/pencil can slow writing significantly. Many
children struggle to monitor pressure through their limbs due to poor
proprioception. We need to help them develop an awareness of the amount
of pressure placed through their limbs particularly upper limbs.
Regularly use exercises where pressure is placed through the upper
limbs ie Crawling games, wheelbarrows, wall press ups, elephant
walks.
Provide a light up pen – this will then flash when too much pressure is
placed through it.
Play MIS: Create a pad by placing a layer of paper and then carbon.
Ask the child to write a secret message so that only one agent can
read it.
Use a hard leaded pencil such as HB so that their writing doesn’t
smudge.
Try fatter barrelled writing tools.
Allow regular writing breaks.
Use leaves of carbon paper under the writing page.
Provide a pad of paper to write on.
Re-tractable pencils although can be annoying will give sensory
feedback if they break.
Try sloped writing surface.
Provide opportunities for different writing positions (better with younger
children) ie lying on tummies, positioning large pieces of paper up on
the wall.
Discomfort on writing. Place pen in between index and middle finger,
supporting index and middle finger, supporting the pen underneath with
the thumb.
D:\687292941.doc